Mirroring Michelangelo, finding Galen: the ancient anatomical theory of the soul and its possible influence on The Creation of Adam

Abstract

Galen of Pergamon (129 – c. 216) was a Greek physician, surgeon, and philosopher in the Roman Empire, whose views dominated Western medicine for thirteen centuries until the Renaissance. Starting from the theories of Hippocrates and Plato, Galen supposed how the soul was distributed within the human body. Galen’s method of investigation was the archetype of medical-scientific thought for his time. More generally, his visions were very practical and he managed to summarize and refine the contemporary knowledge in medicine. Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) was a “key figure” of the Italian High Renaissance. For centuries, his masterpieces have been studied in many disciplines, including the medical field, especially Anatomy. One of Michelangelo’s most studied works of art has been The Creation of Adam. In recent years, scientists from different fields of study have found hidden messages inside this work. Some theories are extremely interesting, and other meanings may have been included by Michelangelo in what many consider to be his greatest work. This paper suggests a new hypothesis of an anatomical observation of The Creation of Adam, based on Galen’s theory about the soul. This is to reason that the medical research carried on by Galen could have influenced many fields and also Michelangelo’s work. More generally, the study of human anatomy since ancient times has undoubtedly influenced many fields of research and development in important ways.